17 Again

Call me crazy, but I think this Zac Efron fellow might have a future. The High School Musical star made an impressive turn in Hairspray, and now he gets to headline in 17 Again. Yes, it’s another one of those “man gets a chance to be young again films” and yes, much of it feels like recycled sitcom pap. Fortunately, Efron anchors the film with a winning, charming performance that has me looking forward to his future film roles, and hoping some good directors give him a shot in quality work. He plays a grown man who becomes young again, and the older version is played by Matthew Perry, who Efron does a mean job mimicking. It’s dopey as all heck, but Efron makes it more than tolerable.